Lalit Modi likes to rile up things from time to time. The man who was instrumental in setting up the IPL in 2008 and turning it into one of the premier cricketing tournaments in the world, has made India the kings in the cricketing world.

While Modi was banned by the BCCI in 2013 and is currently in exile in London, he likes to stir the pot from time to time. On Friday, the day of the IPL opening ceremony, the former BCCI vice-president took to social media sites to ask his former organisation to help out needy farmers. He wrote in an Instagram post: “IPL should donate its 1000 crore plus profit for this Year to help victims of drought. This is the need of the hour. @iplt20 needs a much needed change of image as do mandarins in @bcci.tv #IPLbats4people.”

IPL Chairman promises to help farmers

Earlier, IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla said they are committed to the welfare of the farmers and will do whatever is suggested to them. Responding to a PIL which wants all the IPL matches to be moved out of Maharashtra, a state facing acute water shortage, the Bombay High Court had given a go-ahead to at least to the tournament opener.

Speaking at the opening ceremony for the ninth edition of the hugely-popular league, Shukla said, "The IPL and BCCI are committed to the welfare of the farmers. We will do whatever is suggested to us. We will co-operate with whatever is told to us." Three cities in the state -- Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur -- are scheduled to host 19 matches in total this edition.

Shukla further said the perception of IPL being an entertainment show was wrong. "Whatever people may see, I still believe that IPL is serious cricket. It's not just entertainment. Most of the games finish in the last over. Lot many budding talent are discovered by IPL, the world has seen that. This edition will be a better one than the previous editions. IPL is growing every year," he avowed.